Messi's 99th Miami Goal Wasted as Nashville Snatch Late Draw

Messi's 99th Miami Goal Wasted as Nashville Snatch Late Draw

Lionel Messi scored his 99th goal for Inter Miami on Saturday, September 12, but it was not enough to secure victory as Nashville SC struck in stoppage time to salvage a 2-2 draw at Chase Stadium. The result, in a match between two of the Eastern Conference's leading sides, leaves Inter Miami nine points behind league leaders Nashville with the MLS season entering its closing stretch.

• Final Score: Inter Miami 2-2 Nashville SC
• Competition: MLS 2026 Regular Season
• Venue: Chase Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, September 12, 2026
• Goalscorers: Sam Surridge (opener, and stoppage-time equalizer), Reed Baker-Whiting (own goal), Lionel Messi (62')
• Messi's goal was his 99th for Inter Miami since joining the club
• Messi remains MLS's top scorer this season with 19 goals
• Inter Miami have won just once in their last nine matches across all competitions
• The result leaves Inter Miami nine points behind Nashville in the Eastern Conference

Nashville Strike First Before Own Goal Levels It

Nashville SC took an early lead through Sam Surridge, continuing his strong scoring form this season. Inter Miami responded before the break when a Reed Baker-Whiting own goal brought the sides level at 1-1, setting the stage for a tense second-half battle between two of the conference's top teams.

Messi's Moment: Goal Number 99 for Miami

The decisive moment appeared to arrive in the 62nd minute when Messi combined with Rodrigo De Paul before finishing with a precise left-footed strike from 20 yards to put Inter Miami ahead 2-1. The goal marked a significant milestone — Messi's 99th in an Inter Miami shirt since his move to Major League Soccer. He almost doubled his tally soon after, only to be denied by a strong save from Nashville goalkeeper Brian Schwabe and a last-ditch clearance from Jeisson Palacios.

Messi's influence was felt throughout the match beyond his goal, as he continued to look for opportunities to extend Miami's lead, including from set-piece situations that kept Nashville's defense under constant pressure.

Nashville's Stoppage-Time Sting

Just when Inter Miami appeared set to hold on for a crucial win, Nashville delivered a sting in stoppage time. Sam Surridge completed his brace equalizing from close range to snatch a point for the visitors and stun the Chase Stadium crowd. The late equalizer was a bitter blow for Inter Miami, who had appeared to be closing in on a much-needed victory against a direct rival in the Eastern Conference standings.

What the Result Means

The draw does little to ease the pressure on Inter Miami, who have now won just one of their last nine matches across all competitions. Despite Messi's continued brilliance individually — he remains the league's top scorer with 19 goals this season — the team's collective form has been a concern, and this result leaves them nine points adrift of Nashville at the top of the Eastern Conference with the season winding down.

Q1: What was the final score between Inter Miami and Nashville SC? The match ended in a 2-2 draw.

Q2: How many goals has Messi scored for Inter Miami? Messi's goal in this match was his 99th for Inter Miami.

Q3: Who scored for Nashville SC? Sam Surridge scored twice, including the stoppage-time equalizer.

Q4: How is Inter Miami performing this season? Inter Miami have won just one of their last nine matches across all competitions, despite Messi remaining the league's top scorer with 19 goals.

Q5: Where does this result leave Inter Miami in the standings? The draw leaves Inter Miami nine points behind Nashville SC at the top of the Eastern Conference.

Conclusion - highlight

A dramatic finish at Chase Stadium saw Nashville SC deny Inter Miami victory in stoppage time, despite Lionel Messi's landmark 99th goal for the club. With Miami struggling for consistent results and Nashville continuing to lead the Eastern Conference, the pressure will only grow on Inter Miami as they look to turn their individual brilliance into collective results down the stretch.